Choosing responsible investment

Help your clients make investments that can make a difference

We care about responsible investing (RI). For more than 30 years, we’ve been offering RI–that’s 30 years of making a difference. Our track record and years of expertise in RI demonstrate how your clients’ investments can concretely make a difference for their portfolios and the planet.


Discover the new Desjardins SocieTerra funds:

  • NEW!

    Desjardins SocieTerra Global Balanced Fund

    To invest in a balanced strategy that capitalizes on the transition to a sustainable world.

    The fund invests in the Desjardins SocieTerra Environmental Bond Fund, the Desjardins SocieTerra Positive Change Fund and the Desjardins SocieTerra Global Opportunities Fund, managed by Mirova, Baillie Gifford and Impax Asset Management, respectively.

    Learn more - Desjardins SocieTerra Global Balanced Fund
  • NEW!

    Desjardins SocieTerra International Small Cap Equity Fund

    To invest in emerging international companies with the potential to grow sustainably.

    Portfolio manager Baillie Gifford employs a bottom-up approach to stock selection, assessing a company’s ability to deliver sustainable growth over the long term and incorporating ESG factors in its selection criteria.

    Learn more - Desjardins SocieTerra International Small Cap Equity Fund
  • NEW!

    Desjardins SocieTerra American Small Cap Equity Fund

    To invest in emerging US companies with some of the best ESG practices.

    The fund aims to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in securities of smaller-sized companies offering higher growth potential than that of large cap American securities, while applying ESG criteria to portfolio holdings.

    Learn more - Desjardins SocieTerra American Small Cap Equity Fund

Among Desjardins RI solutions, one fund obtained five stars in the Morningstar rankings 1:

Discover over 30 RI solutions


We stand out

Our responsible investing approach combines several strategies to allow investors to use their savings to make a difference. For example, we select companies that are leaders in their industry and adopt practices that meet the environmental, social and governance criteria of RI. This includes:

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting biodiversity
  • Providing solutions to communities without access to financial services
  • Increasing diversity on boards of directors

Making a difference

A full 78% of Canadian investors who are interested in RI expect to be informed about how their investments can make a difference on society and the environment2. Our excellence and innovation in communicating this make them easy to understand and meaningful for you and your clients

Learn more about the positive outcomes of businesses that make up our Desjardins Responsible Investment Funds


Responsible investment ETFs

Looking for alternative ways to invest responsibly? Our lineup of responsible investment exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provides a different approach, but with the same goal: investing in sustainable development without compromising on growth. Desjardins responsible investment ETFs are part of a line of investment products designed to support actions against climate change and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Explore our suite of Desjardins responsible investment ETFs



Stand out in client presentations with our new interactive RI brochure. Experience it now.


Learn more about RI


  • The Morningstar Rating (as of April 30, 2023) for funds, or “star rating”, is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product’s monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The Morningstar Rating does not include any adjustment for sales loads. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year ratingl30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods. linsert name of fund] was rated against the following numbers of [insert name of category] funds over the following time periods: linsert number of funds in category during prior 3-year period] funds in the last three years, [insert number of funds in category during the prior 5-year period] funds in the last five years, and [insert number of funds in category during the prior 10-year period] funds in the last ten years. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
  • Desjardins. Étude 2020 sur l'investissement responsable. Research and Innovation Department, December 2020. [SOM Investor Web Survey for Desjardins Investment inc., held with 2,864 Canadian respondents. The margin of error is ± 2.6%, 19 times out of 20]. [internal document].

The Desjardins Funds are not guaranteed, their value fluctuates frequently, and their past performance is not indicative of their future returns. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns as indicated in this document including changes in securities value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not consider sales, redemption, distribution or other optional charges, or income taxes payable by any securityholder, that would have reduced returns. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. The Desjardins Funds are offered by registered dealers.

The Desjardins Exchange Traded Funds are not guaranteed, their value fluctuates frequently and their past performance is not indicative of their future returns. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in exchange traded funds. Please read the prospectus before investing. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. is the manager and portfolio manager of the Desjardins Exchange Traded Funds. The Desjardins Exchange Traded Funds are offered by registered dealers.

Investments that work toward a better world

Beyond financial returns

Investing responsibly means using your savings as a lever for change and making a positive contribution to society and the planet. Our 30-year responsible investment experience has led us to create diversified products, allowing you to be part of the solution for a better future, without comprising returns.

Concrete results

Our expertise can take you where you want to go. In addition to offering you a large array of investment funds focused on financial returns, we promise to provide you with concrete outcomes that your investments are having on society and the planet. It's our way of showing you the added value of your investments, and the positive outcomes that you can have by investing in certain companies.

Your investments can have concrete outcomes on:

  • The environment, through a reduction in CO² emissions
  • Society, through recycling
  • Business governance, with greater representation of women on boards of directors compared to other companies

Learn more about responsible investment benefits

An approach based on 3 game-changing criteria

Responsible investing prioritizes companies that adapt their practices to environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria to meet the challenges of the global economy.

In addition to applying to certain financial products, these criteria steer business decisions and define the way the business is run.

  1. The Environment Environmental factors include biodiversity, climate change and water management.
  2. Social Social factors involve issues such as social justice, human rights and labour rights.
  3. Governance Company governance criteria include the diversity and independence of boards of directors, compensation for managers and rights of shareholders.

Learn more about responsible investing - External link. This link will open in a new window.

Learn more about the companies that make up our responsible investment portfolios

4 reasons to consider responsible investing

  1. Comparable returns

    Potential RI returns are just as good, and sometimes better, than those of traditional investments. You don't need to sacrifice returns to stay true to your values1.

  2. Less risk

    RI tends to decrease risk. Several studies have shown that companies that value ESG criteria are better equipped to manage risk, which potentially increases returns.

  3. A proven history

    The first RI fund was created in Europe in 1965. Today, RI represents more than 61.8% of Canadian investments2.

  4. Diversified investments

    You have access to all main asset categories, including high-yield bond funds, emerging markets and small and mid-cap companies.

Our difference

Our expertise can take you where you want to go. We have the widest range of responsible investment products in Canada. You can count on our team of specialists to make a difference while managing your portfolio and investments, aiming for the best possible returns.

  • 25+ savings products: The most sophisticated offer on the Canadian market.
  • Leader: 1st environmental RI fund launched in 1990
  • A roadmap with concrete results
  • Nonstop innovation–first of its kind in Canada
  • Annual report on fund's financial and extra-financial results

Discover our funds

Learn more about our responsible investment policy (PDF, 535 KB) - External link. This link will open in a new window.

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